CONTEXT
NEXT, one of the UK’s leading retailers, embarked on a mission to strengthen its sustainability function to meet the growing demands of environmental regulations and ethical trading standards. To support this initiative, NEXT needed to recruit a range of specialized roles under the Head of Sustainability, including: CSRD Reporting Lead; Packaging & EPR Lead; Responsible Sourcing Lead; Product Legislation Manager; Sourcing Compliance Assistant; Ethical Trading Manager; Responsible Sourcing Assistant; Sourcing Compliance Assistant
THE CHALLENGE
The primary challenge was geographical—while the most significant talent pool for sustainability roles was concentrated in London and the South, all positions were based at NEXT’s headquarters in Leicester, offering some hybrid working options. The scale of NEXT’s operations added an extra layer of complexity to each role, further narrowing the already limited talent pool for such specialised positions
THE SOLUTION
To overcome these challenges, a strategic and bespoke recruitment approach was developed:
Detailed Briefs: Each role was thoroughly scoped by collaborating closely with the Head of Sustainability and the hiring managers. This ensured a deep understanding of the technical requirements, cultural expectations, and operational complexities.
Research & Longlisting: A focused market research effort was launched to identify potential candidates across the UK and beyond. A longlist of individuals with the right combination of skills and experience was compiled for each role.
Proactive Engagement: The potential candidates were approached directly with engaging, tailored content highlighting the opportunity at NEXT and the unique challenges and rewards of each role. This helped attract attention from candidates who might not have otherwise considered a move to Leicester.
Rigorous Interviews: For those who expressed interest, detailed interviews were arranged. These assessed not only the candidates’ technical expertise but also their cultural fit within NEXT’s sustainability team and the broader business. It was also an opportunity for the candidate to discover more about the opportunity at NEXT and assess if it is also the right move for them. Feedback was collated into comprehensive reports for the hiring managers.
Collaborative Feedback: Following each round of interviews, a collaborative discussion was held with the hiring manager to ensure alignment on candidate preferences and next steps. and feedback provided to all candidates
Final Selection Process: Shortlisted candidates proceeded through a structured selection process, including virtual and face-to-face interviews as well personality profiling where relevant. A key element was a presentation on a pre-set task, allowing the hiring team to evaluate candidates' problem-solving skills and approach to real-world scenarios.
The Outcome
All roles were successfully filled on the first attempt, a testament to the tailored, proactive approach taken. By targeting relevant talent and having open, honest discussions around the benefits and challenges of the roles, this ensured no time was wasted for either party throughout the process. This resulted in quality hires that contributed to a well-rounded and capable team, ready to address the complex sustainability challenges facing NEXT. This bespoke approach also resulted in healthy talentpools being created for future opportunities.it it.